Abstract: An acid-resistant alloy catalyst, comprising nickel, one or more rare earth element, tin, aluminum and molybdenum. The catalyst is cheap and stable, does not need a carrier, can be stably applied in industrial continuous production, and can lower the production cost.

Abstract: A dispenser is configured to dispense food products at varying nutritive levels by dispensing a combination of sweeteners in a predetermined ratio from a plurality of sweetener sources. Using a predetermined combination of sweeteners in a predetermined ratio for a selected nutritive level for a given product ensures that the dispensed product will have a desirable flavor profile while at the same time providing increased consumer choice. A combination of caloric, mid-calorie, low calorie, and/or non-caloric sweeteners may be dispensed to produce a food product with a specified caloric level or nutritive level. For a given nutritive level selected, the product dispenser may dispense different combinations of sweeteners and/or different ratios of sweeteners for different brands or products to be dispensed. Likewise, for a given brand or product, the product dispenser may dispense different combinations of sweeteners and/or different ratios of sweeteners for different selected nutritive levels.

Abstract: The present application provides a filling line for filling a container with one of a number of different beverages. The filling line may include a water circuit with a counter-pressure nozzle to fill the container with carbonated water and one or more micro-ingredient towers with a number of micro-ingredients therein positioned downstream of the counter-pressure nozzle to fill the container with the micro-ingredients.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated panel is disclosed herein. According to an embodiment, the vacuum insulated panel may include a frame having a first side and a second side. The vacuum insulated panel also may include a first convex sheet positioned about the first side of the frame and a second convex sheet positioned about the second side of the frame. Moreover, the vacuum insulated panel may include a cavity formed between the first convex sheet and the second convex sheet. Further, the vacuum insulated panel may include a vacuum formed within the cavity. The vacuum may be configured to at least partially flatten the first convex sheet and the second convex sheet into a substantially parallel planar configuration.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser and method for operating a beverage dispenser may include receiving a handshake request from a mobile device of a user. A communications link may be established with the mobile device. Responsive to receiving control data associated with a beverage order from the mobile device, a physical function may be caused to be performed by the beverage dispenser.

Abstract: A vending machine includes a storage to store product management data in which an on-sale product management numbers is associated with product management content; an input and output unit to input and output the product management data; and an update control unit configured to update the product management data. Further, the update control unit collectively receives all the product management data including a part to be updated, stores all the product management data as update target product management data, displays the update target product management data including confirmation target information and stores the update target product management data as updated product management data.

Abstract: Upon selection of a product selection icon on a user interface of a beverage vendor, a price per amount of the product is displayed to clearly depict product costs while also providing flexibility for having products of different price points. After selection of the product and upon successful payment validation, a dispensing gauge displays an amount of product dispensed and total current cost of a dispensing session at a location of the product selection icon. A selectable dispense icon is provided upon the successful payment to facilitate dispensing the selected product and a product icon is provided proximate to the selectable dispense icon. Within the dispensing session, upon selection of a second product selection icon, the dispensing gauge moves to the second product selection icon and accumulates additional cost for the transaction based on a cost per amount of a second product associated with the second product selection icon.

Abstract: A consumable item dispenser and method may include an ingredient storage unit configured to store a consumable ingredient used to produce consumable items by the dispenser. A sensor may be configured to sense an amount of consumable ingredient remaining to be dispensed. An input/output unit may be configured to communicate data over a communications network. A processing unit may be in communication with the sensor, and be configured to authenticate an electronic device associated with an operator and register the electronic device associated with the operator. A determination as to whether an amount of the ingredient in the ingredient storage unit is at or below a threshold level. The processing unit may generate a notification indicative that the ingredient is at or below a threshold level, and communicate the notification to the operator in response to being generated.

Abstract: Rebaudioside M compositions with improved aqueous solubility and methods for preparing the same are provided herein. The rebaudioside M compositions include (i) disordered crystalline compositions comprising rebaudioside M and rebaudioside D, (ii) spray-dried compositions comprising rebaudioside M, rebaudioside D and steviol glycoside mixtures and/or rebaudioside B and/or NSF-02, (iii) spray-dried compositions comprising rebaudioside M, rebaudioside D and at least one surfactant, polymer, saponin, carbohydrate, polyol, preservative or a combination thereof. Sweetened compositions, such a beverages, containing the rebaudioside M compositions with improved water solubility are also provided herein.

Abstract: An edible caramel color composition and method of making the same are disclosed. The method of making an edible caramel color composition includes the step of heating a reaction mixture to form a caramel color composition, wherein the reaction mixture contains: a carbohydrate, and a sulfite compound, in the absence of a caustic compound and in the absence of an ammonium compound.

Abstract: Stevia varieties with a high content of RebM, are disclosed Further provided are methods for producing Stevia plants having a high RebM content by negatively regulating certain genes selecting the resulting plants, and breeding with such plants to confer such desirable Reb M phenotypes to plant progeny.

Abstract: An object with an icon thereon encodes a bit sequence. The icon comprises a plurality of concentric rings, each of the plurality of concentric rings is divided into a plurality of data sectors. Each of the plurality of data sectors is associated with a corresponding bit in the bit sequence, and each of the plurality of data sectors encodes the corresponding bit based on the presence or absence of a line segment in the sector. The plurality of concentric rings further comprises at least three anchor sectors on one or more of the plurality of concentric rings, the at least three anchor sectors comprise an anchor mark. The plurality of concentric rings further comprises one or more error correction sectors, each of the one or more error correction sectors encodes a corresponding error correction bit based on the presence or absence of a line segment in the error correction sector.

Abstract: The present application provides a dispensing nozzle assembly for mixing a first fluid and a second fluid. The dispensing nozzle assembly may include a target assembly with a number of twisted fins and an injector ring assembly surrounding the target assembly in whole or in part. The injector ring assembly may include a number of first tubes with one or more threads therein directed towards the target assembly for the first fluid and a number of second tubes directed towards the target assembly for the second fluid such that the first fluid and the second fluid mix along the twisted fins of the target assembly.

Abstract: Sweetened compositions comprising at least one sweetener and rebaudioside X are provided herein. Rebaudioside X is present in the sweetened compositions in a concentration at or below the sweetness recognition threshold, while the at least one sweetener is present in a concentration above its sweetness recognition threshold. Rebaudioside X acts to enhance the sweetness of the sweetened compositions, e.g. beverages and concentrate compositions, thereby allowing for preparation of sweetened compositions with reduced calorie content. Methods of enhancing the sweetness of a sweetened composition with rebaudioside X are also provided herein.

Abstract: The present application provides a beverage dispensing system for dispensing beverages with low solubility ingredients. The beverage dispensing system may include a sweetener flow, a first diluent flow, a low solubility ingredient premixing system for mixing a low solubility ingredient with a second diluent flow to create a mixed flow, and a nozzle to mix the sweetener flow, the first diluent flow, and the mixed flow.

Abstract: A dispensing system may be provided. The dispensing system may comprise a control architecture internal to the dispensing system. The dispensing system may further comprise an internal portion internal to the dispensing system. The internal portion may be configured to provide an internal ingredient under the control of the control architecture. An external portion may be external to the dispensing system. The external portion may be configured to provide an external ingredient to the dispensing system. The external portion may be under the control of the control architecture.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically coring a whole citrus fruit, isolating fiber or substantially whole juice sacs from at least a portion of a whole citrus fruit.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine includes a product housing rack including a plurality of product housing shelves that are disposed in an up-down direction, a plurality of product housing paths corresponding to the plurality of product housing shelves, each product housing path being defined in the corresponding product housing shelf and configured to house products, a plurality of product discharge devices corresponding to the plurality of product housing shelves and the plurality of product housing paths, each product discharge device being configured to separate and discharge, one by one, the products that are housed in the corresponding product housing path. The product housing shelf includes a front side shelf member and a back side shelf member that are divided in the front-back direction, supported by support members, and detachably coupled with each other so that the front side shelf member is sandwiched by the back side shelf member.